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EveryFaceShape

Faith and identity

Marks and styles of religion, caste, clan and community, by tradition. 41 face guides on EveryFaceShape so far.

Many face marks and styles belong to faith, caste, clan and community: the Hindu tilak and tripundra, the bindi and sindoor, the unshorn Sikh beard, the beards of Muslim, Jewish, Amish and Orthodox Christian men, the payot sidelocks of Orthodox Jews, and the tā moko of the Māori, which records genealogy. EveryFaceShape describes each as tradition, with respect, as the communities explain them.

Marks of devotion

Hindu forehead marks often show which tradition a worshipper follows: two vertical lines of clay, the urdhva pundra, for Vaishnavas; three lines of ash, the tripundra, for Shaivas; a red dot or line of kumkum for Shaktas. Many are applied after worship at temples such as Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi or in the temples of Vrindavan. Practice varies by family and region.

Faith and facial hair

For initiated Sikhs, kesh, uncut hair including the beard, is one of the five articles of faith. Many Muslim men grow a beard following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. Orthodox Jewish men may keep beards and payot, sidelocks. Married Amish men grow beards without moustaches. Armies in several countries have changed rules so people of faith can serve with beards.

Famous faith and identity face guides

TilakaHindu forehead marksTripundraThree lines of ash, for ShivaUrdhva PundraThe Vaishnava upward markVibhutiSacred ashKeshUncut hair, including the beardPayotThe sidelocks of Orthodox Jewish menTā mokoRecords Māori genealogy

Further reading

KindFace shapeEyesNoseLipsBrowsJaw and cheeksHairlineSkinBeardMoustacheFrameAdornmentMakeupMarking
SuitsOval facesRound facesSquare facesHeart-shaped facesDiamond facesOblong facesTriangle facesMost faces
OriginInherited featuresGrown and groomedWornAppliedMarkedChanges with age
OrderBest knownA to ZOldest firstNewest first
🇮🇳 IndiaKesh Uncut hair kept as a religious symbol in Sikhism, part of the Five Ks.Marking · 1699 WorldNose jewellery Ornaments worn through nostril or septum piercings.Adornment · Most faces 🇯🇵 JapanOhaguro A Japanese tradition of blackening teeth with iron and tannins.Makeup · 1000 🇲🇲 MyanmarTattooing in Myanmar Traditional body art of Myanmar's ethnic groups, marking strength and identity.Marking WorldFace tattoo Ink designs on the face or head from traditional customsMarking WorldNose piercing A facial adornment involving jewelry inserted into the nose skin or cartilage.Adornment 🇳🇿 New ZealandTā moko Traditional permanent facial and body markings of the Māori people of New Zealand.Marking WorldVibhuti Sacred ash used in Hindu rituals and applied as forehead markings.Makeup 🇮🇳 IndiaTilaka A traditional Hindu forehead mark applied with paste or ash to signify faith and spiritual identity.Adornment 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSindoor A vermilion powder worn by married Hindu women to mark marital status.Makeup 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBindi A coloured dot worn on the forehead in South and Southeast Asia.Adornment · Most faces 🇲🇽 MexicoCalavera Decorative or edible skulls made for the Mexican Day of the Dead.Adornment 🇳🇬 Nigeria and 2 moreYoruba tribal marks Scarification patterns used by the Yoruba people for identity and beauty.Marking 🇨🇦 CanadaKakiniit Traditional facial and body tattoos of Inuit women in the North American Arctic.Marking WorldLabret A body piercing placed below the bottom lip and above the chin.Adornment 🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 3 moreLip plate A large disc inserted into a stretched lip piercing as body modification.Adornment 🇩🇿 Algeria and 4 moreAfrican scarification Traditional skin marking practices across Africa for identity and status.Marking Ichi 🇳🇬 NigeriaIchi Ritual facial scarification of the Igbo people marking nobility.Marking WorldCheek piercing A facial piercing through the cheek tissue to create a dimple-like appearance.Adornment Tavlugun 🇺🇸 United StatesTavlugun A traditional chin tattoo worn by Indigenous Iñupiaq women.Marking 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreYidiiltoo Traditional face tattoos of Hän Gwich’in women from Alaska and Canada.Marking 🇮🇱 Israel and 2 morePe'ot Sideburns left uncut above the cheekbone as required by Jewish law.Beard · Most faces 🇧🇭 Bahrain and 4 moreBattoulah A metallic fashion mask worn by women in the Persian Gulf region.Adornment 🇯🇵 Japan and 4 moreTeeth blackening A traditional custom of dyeing teeth black to signify adulthood and beauty.Makeup 🇹🇷 Turkey and 2 moreDeq Traditional permanent tattooing among Kurds and YazidisMarking 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGodna Traditional tribal face and body tattooing from IndiaMarking WorldScarification Permanent skin markings created by cutting or burning for cultural identity.Marking 🇪🇬 Egypt and 4 moreKohl A traditional eye cosmetic made from crushed minerals or soot, used across Africa and Asia for thousands of years.Makeup 🇮🇳 IndiaSehra A floral or beaded forehead garland for grooms.Adornment · Most faces 🇮🇳 IndiaUrdhva Pundra Vertical Vaishnava forehead mark denoting devotion to Vishnu.Adornment · Most faces WorldUrna A spiral mark on the forehead in Buddhist art.Adornment Indigenous Tattoos of the Indi 🇮🇳 IndiaIndigenous Tattoos of the Indian Subcontinent Traditional body marking for identity and protection in South Asia.Marking 🇮🇳 IndiaKumkum Red forehead powder used for religious and social markings in India.Adornment · Most faces 🇯🇵 JapanOshiroi Traditional Japanese white face makeup for kabuki actors and geisha.Makeup · 1934 WorldEyelid A thin fold of skin that covers the eye and keeps it moist.Eyes · Most faces 🇮🇳 IndiaTripundra Three horizontal ash lines on the forehead worn by Shaivite Hindus.Adornment WorldFacial hair Hair grown on the human face, primarily a male secondary sex characteristic.Beard · Most faces WorldPrayer callus A forehead mark from repeated ritual prostration in prayer.Marking 🇮🇱 Israel and 1 morePayot Sidelocks worn by Orthodox Jewish men as a religious observance.Beard 🇺🇸 United StatesShenandoah A full beard along the jaw and chin with a shaved upper lip.Beard WorldBeard Facial hair on the jaw, chin, cheeks and neck of adult males.Beard

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: the face guide of the day, new pages on EveryFaceShape, and the conferences and anniversaries of the week ahead.